Geographic Information System (GIS) links locational (spatial) and database (tabular) information and enables a person to visualize patterns, relationships, and trends. This process gives an enitrely new perspective to data analysis that cannot be seen in table or list format.

Server-based GIS can be defined as centrally hosted GIS computing, and it allows applications to be centrally managed. A person can connect to the central GIS servers using desktop GIS software, web browsers, custom applications and mobile computing devices.